Don’t Gamble With  Your Home Search

People still buy homes in Tallahassee, Florida without Realtors. Yes they do. Unfortunately, those buyers often end up with issues that they have no clue as to how to solve, much less have a clue as to who can solve their dilemmas.

A few years ago, I answered the call from a buyer desperate and sitting in a moving van wondering where his family was supposed to go because his transaction fell apart at the closing table. The attorneys for the seller, where he had unknowingly agreed to close, kept a binder check, and hurried him out the door because it was almost 5:00pm. He was desperately calling Realtors out of a real estate magazine, and I happened to be his fifth call. (more…)

Mr. and Mrs. Home Buyer, what’s the thing you hate most about home shopping? I bet I know! ( been around long enough to hear the stories). Could it be that you are riding around, calling on real estate signs and getting different Realtor every time you call. I bet before you get home, you’ve got 15 home listings in your email,… from 15 different Realtors. Congratulations  you have just become a “Drip!”

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Chris Brown, Orlando Mortgage Pro puts it in simple terms.. and this should alert some folks who are sitting on the fence pondering the question on whether or not to purchase now or later.
Chris equates it like this:
Numbers speak! “If you are waiting for prices to fall, here is something to think about… ”
A $250,000 house today at an interest rate of 4.375% = a monthly payment of $1248.21 PI!
That same monthly payment at an interest rate of 5.375% would only = a $222,906 loan amount.
In other words, the house would have to go down over 10% [$27,094] before the payment would be the same (at a higher int rate).
As a Realtor, my take on this is the reverse:
If you can afford a payment of $1248.21, you qualify for a purchase price of $250,000 at an interest rate of 4.375.
If the interest rate rises one point, to 5.375, the purchase price of the home you can now afford just dropped to $222,906!
$27,904 is a lot of money to walk away from if you buying a home.
If I were a home-buyer I’d think twice about waiting. Home prices in Tallahassee, FL are low, and interest rates right now are at a 40 year low. Consider a purchase now before rates rise. Rates below 5% or 6% will not last.

No one can appreciate Hometown Heroes more than me!  My family is full of hometown heroes. Close friends serve and protect here in Tallahassee, Florida across the country and overseas. Military,Police, firefighters, nurses, and teachers, you are our heroes! You protect and serve us, often putting yourselves in danger and taking time from your families to serve us. Each of you are heroes in my eyes, each deserve affordable homes where you can lay your head down at night and escape the dangers and responsibilities of keeping us safe and of watching over our children every day. There are special loan programs designed for you to help you purchase a home.

If you live in Tallahassee, FL, have a public service job and are a home-buyer searching for your next home, I want to help you find the way home. Call me today, let me give something back ~ let me help you. Here to counsel you about home ownership, help you with home sales or difficulties, or assist you in your home purchases. Questions will be answered, problems will be solved, obstacles will be overcome. Debbie Kirkland, Realtor is here to help. Debbie Kirkland, Tallahassee, FL resident is thankful for you.

What People have to say about Using a Realtor, a real estate professional:

Nurses
Firefighters
Police/Sherrif’s Dept.
Teachers

Resources:
Florida Home Buyer Opportunity Information:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/upload/Florida-housing-resources.pdf

Federal Housing Resources:
http://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/upload/Federal-housing-resources.pdf

Boy! HGTV has set some pretty high standards for sellers, buyers and Realtors. Our expectations of the perfectly staged home, the immaculate house cleaning on an hours notice with the picture-perfect set of toddler triplets who live in a seemingly storefront bubble is what we have grown to expect.  However, that’s not the average person’s reality, now is it?

Often, we catch people rushing to make dinner for their families, interrupting visits with families, attending sick loved ones (including the furry sort). Timing is not often perfect, and life happens. As sellers we often wait for those buyers who are running late with their Realtors as well. Usually, there is a reason..we are showing on an average 15 – 30 listings before the buyers can make a decision. There are issues with buyers as well, mobility issues, children in tow or parent’s tagging along.  Patience is a virtue in the real estate business.

As Realtors we want you to focus on what is important as you are looking at a home, or prepping your home for sale. Prepare for your appointment, look over these Home-Buyer FAQ’s.

Focus on structural and functional details, imagine how furniture will fit in a room, research property taxes and flood zones. A little less time sitting on furniture, looking at baby pictures and let’s give this family their home back, for now!

Sellers, we have a goal, to make a sale. Get ready to sell. If it’s not perfect it doesn’t have to be upside down. If it is, reschedule.

Yes, I’ve seen some sites while showing property, some have impressed me, some have annoyed me, and some have taken my breath away, (positively and negatively).  I’m a Realtor, but more, I’m human and I understand how people live and care for the things they value or don’t value. It takes all kinds of people to make the world go ’round and if you really want to get hung up on all that, there’s lots of reality tv shows you can watch!

As for my customers, they will be taken care of and prepared for their showing appointments and their listing presentations, as well as they can, but… we may be late from time to time.

4103 Cornish Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32303. this home is now in perfect condition! Ready for a home-buyer. Leon County Down Payment Assistance program is available for first-time home buyers and payments will be under 900/month!

It’s complete and it’s On The Market!  $Just $129,000. And no other home will compare in this price range to this home with everything NEW! Every system, flooring, paint in and out, new roof, Air conditioning and Heating system, and a floor plan remodel. It is a gorgeous home and will last a buyer a very long time!

Call for your appointment to see this great home! Open House is Sunday, April 25th from 2 – 4 PM.. Come See It!

Follow the entire project Start to Finish!
Special Thanks to The Sellers for seeing that this is how to sell their home, and to contractor, Charles Temples, Florida Contractors, LLC for making this project happen within their budget.
Now,…. let’s get it SOLD!

What people are grateful for.. the simple things.

Thankful for Our Home

A little of what I heard this year when dealing with so many of the first time home-buyers.

2 Bathrooms

a Yard

A Camelia bush that reminds me of my grandmother

The handmade shelf we found in the garage

The pet rocks with the smiley faces drawn by a child lining the patio planter

a kitchen with new appliances

a room for my daughter, she’s never had her own

the lady across the street

a washer and dryer

the peace and quiet of the woods

a spot for the garden

grass to mow

a place of my own

Again, it’s the simple things that make a house a home for most.

Traditionally, I have always called or sent text messages to my customers early in the morning before too many get involved with their lunch preparations and this year was no different. I am always glad to hear their voices and talk briefly about what they are doing. Most all were having family in their homes at some time during the day

This year, with the help of the tax credit, I had an exceptional amount of first time home-buyers. Each one came to me with a desire to own a home. Home ownership, it really does mean a great deal to people. With the help of the tax credit, down payment assistance programs,  many were able to realize their dreams. There is innately a deep desire for most people to have four walls in which they place all that they seem to love about their lives, a roof over the heads of the people they love and a bit of turf where the fruits of their labor will grow. I am sure home-ownership means different things to different people, but I am lucky enough to hear the happiness over and over.

I am thankful for what I hear, over and over again. That is what I am thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So you think buying a home is easy these days?  For some, it may be, for most people however there are “glitches.” No one like “glitches,” but these days we stumble into more than ever before.  Believe me when I say, no one is perfect. Even the most savvy real estate investor has obstacles that prevent the smooth transactions we grew accustomed to in years past.

Preparing to buy a home involves more than making up  your mind that you want to move. There are certain steps of preparation that you must follow. The first and biggest obstacle that I run into with my customers is CREDIT ISSUES. Either Bad Credit, No credit, or someone else’s credit..on your credit report! Yes, it happens.

There will be some followup to this BLOG, but for now let’s get the credit issues our of the way. Let’s knock out a few credit score questions and answers.

What is a credit Score?

Good grades come from having done positive things, bad grades subtract points from your grade. Most scores range between 300 – 900 points, the higher is the better grade. A credit score is used to qualify you for loans. If you fall below 630 these days, it will will be a challenge to get your qualified. Lenders will delve into your credit scores, using the scores from three major reporting agencies, and sometimes one national agency. If you are monitoring your credit.. check all 3! The nuts and bolts is this:

What affects your Credit Positively?

• Paying your bills on time and in full.
• Having one or two credit cards used on occasion and paid each month.
• The typical rule of thumb is to use 25 percent or less of your available credit. Ideally, carry a balance of no more than $2,500 if your credit limit is $10,000.
• Steady employment. People who are steadily employed are viewed as being better able to pay their bills on time.
• If you are self-employed, pay yourself a documented salary!

What damages your Credit Score:

• Missing of Making Late Payments.
• Using more than 80 percent of your total amount of available credit
• Bankruptcy
• Liens or foreclosures
• Periods of unemployment
• Repeated, multiple requests for new lines of credit ( i.e. store credit card applications will KILL your credit! Don’t do it to save 10%!)

The Major Factors that affect your credit score:

• Your payment history. Are you paying on time? This is one of the biggest factors that lenders look at.
• Your outstanding debt. Your debt to income levels are critical, your ability to pay back small sums is manageable, large balances are very difficult to manage.
• How long have you been building credit. The longer your credit history, the higher your credit rating.
• The number of inquiries on your credit report. The more times you’ve applied for credit cards or loans, the more credit report inquiries will show up on your credit report. When in trouble, in the fine print, your creditors can pull your credit when you are late, when you apply for loan extensions or modifications. This can kill your score because it indicates you are having trouble managing your debts.

What to do when you see a “cheater” on your credit report.

Sometimes there are debts on your credit report that do not belong to you. This happened recently to my 19 year old borrower as he discovered that his father had been using his social security number and had taken out credit cards in his name. They were good pays,.. but they were NOT his, in fact most were taken out when the 19 year old was 9 and 10 years old! Can someone say, “Credit card FRAUD?” Do us all a favor, report credit card fraud, let the credit companies investigate and prosecute those who committed the crime.  If you are one of those stealing from your kids.. thinking you won’t ever get caught… Think  Again!

Credit card fraud is on the rise. Access to social security numbers, telephone numbers, dates of birth are too easy to find, not to mention accessibility to your mailbox which is full of the “sign here” offers that can be stolen in a flash. Use a identity theft service. It’s the cheapest, best insurance you can own, and these days you need it!

CreditReport.com reports that the average credit score of Americans is “in the neighborhood of 680,..” and that, “while consumers have more debt than the year prior, and a quarter of the country has more debt than the national average – apparently we manage debt fairly well, as our average credit score is hanging in there.”

So, while you may look at your credit card debt and shriek,.. look at your score, do a little housecleaning once a year and relax.

Part II….Exercise Your Right To Choose the Right Lender!

 Nearly every Sunday I sit open houses for my sellers here in Tallahassee, FL.  While the goals of open houses are to expose a home to potential buyers, often times it is an opportunity for buyers to meet hardworking, professional and educated Realtors. It’s the perfect time to engage perfect strangers.  It’s also a time to let your personality shine through. When I am working with newer agents I try to remind them, not only must you be the most educated “kid” in the industry, but the most animated, exuberant and genuine Realtor they will see during their open house tour day.  It’s often your one shot to shine above the rest of your competition.

 Buyers have more homes to look at today than ever before. They are also going to meet more Realtors than ever. How are you going to stand out? Do you need a wiener-mobile, (although I have asked my kids for years to submit me for “Pimp My Ride” – I wouldn’t refuse!), a musical business card, or top hat and tap shoes? It’s really not that hard. Being prepared, and being able to recognize 3 simple kinds of open house visitors are all you really need. (That and a good breakfast!)

 I pretty much think you can classify open house buyers in three categories:

 First, Buyer’s who are just looking, we know them as the “tire-kickers”, not to be insulting, but basically, they are just “kicking” around thoughts in their heads. Perhaps they are looking for ideas from new construction on how to fix up their homes, perhaps they are weighing their options of up-sizing or down-sizing. I love these folks! They are the ones that often enter with closed minds. not intentionally of course, but hopefully leave with something of value. In this instance, I provide a simple service whether a summation of industry news, market conditions, or at the very least a free valuation of their home. I believe in “remembrances, some call them freebies. I want these folks to remember me for taking the time to provide them with a service. A list of your services is a necessity for these folks. A perfect Brochure: “My Full-Time Realtor Service Portfolio.”

 Secondly, I see the standoffs. They rush in, pull back at “hello,” and rush out.  These will be the hardest customers for someone to deal with.  They do not understand Realtors, they are misinformed and often have pre-conceived notions whether from a bad experience or a predatory salesperson from the past, or they simply know it all anyway. Best to let these folks pass through and continue to call on every sign, they do not value your services or your time. A perfect flyer for these customers on the fly: “Why Use a Realtor and on the back, “How Realtors Get Paid.”  

 Thirdly, there are the wide-eyed wonders. Generally, these folks are excited, easily enamored and also easily disappointed. They want a new home, but perhaps have not been introduced to Realtors properly. They don’t have a clue how to begin a transaction or how to work with a Realtor. These folks are also your Easter eggs. These brightly shining, colorful folks are the ones you want to collect in your basket and watch over. With proper guidance, they will hatch into to happy, grateful customers who will produce more happy, grateful customers. For these folks, it is all about subtlety and education.  Have the tools they need on hand. The perfect package for these folks: An appointment card (for your Buyer Orientation), Why use a Realtor and how a Realtor Get’s Paid, A Buyer’s guide to FLORIDA Real estate (what to know about your state’s insurance, how your State Association is working to protect homeowner’s real estate interests), a first time home-owners package, and give them as much information as possible on a frequent basis. Register them to your website, your blogs; put them in an automated listing notification system. Call them when they get these notifications, review the listing that was sent and give them feedback before your ever show it. Let them know you know about this property even if you have to call the other agent to discuss it ahead of time. These are the customers that will eagerly research on their own, weed out the listings that are not of interest, and take your cards to other Realtors when they visit open houses, because… you will have trained them to do so! After all, it is great for customers to hear from other agents that their Realtor is a great Realtor! (I hope you reciprocate this!)

So, organize your thoughts and materials prior to your open house. Put your game face on for the kickers, bring the shield for the darts flying around the standoffs, and be ready to dance with the wide-eyed wonders! Ask yourself, “Would I pick me?” If not, well, that’s another article.